The youth section of the Labour Party has been accused of “hateful nonsense” over a number of tweets sent from its official account in the last two days.
Young Labour’s chairwoman said she “utterly condemns” the now-deleted tweet, from verified account @YoungLabourUK, which read: “Joan Ryan Gone – Palestine Lives”.
It came after former minister Ryan, who chaired Labour Friends of Israel, announced she was quitting the party to join the breakaway Independent Group in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
The tweet quickly circulated on social media and was met with criticism, reports the Press Association.
Journalist Jane Merrick, who quit the Labour Party last year over anti-Semitism concerns, tweeted: “Who is running the Young Labour Twitter account? Do Young Labour people really want to be associated with that hateful nonsense?”
Emily Benn, granddaughter of the late Labour MP Tony Benn, said in a tweet: “If those responsible for the Young Labour Twitter Output are really the future of the Labour Party, then The Labour Party is Doomed (and deserves to be)”.
Miriam Mirwatch, chairwoman of Young Labour, tweeted that she had not written the post, and vowed to continue “fighting for an open, inclusive and welcoming Young Labour”.
“To make crystal clear, I did not send the tweet about Joan Ryan from the Young Labour Twitter account and I utterly condemn it,” she said.
“Multiple members of YL committee have access to the account.
“I’ll never stop fighting for an open, inclusive and welcoming Young Labour.”
She added: “Please don’t think the online conduct of a few on social media represents the whole of Young Labour.
“There’s so much talent, so many brilliant activists and so much to be proud of in our movement. I’ll never stop fighting to make our movement a welcoming and inclusive place.”
Mirwatch had previously criticised a tweet sent from the account when the first seven Labour MPs resigned from the party on Monday.
While the septet were announcing their decision, the account tweeted a lyric from The Red Flag, which appeared to refer to them as “cowards” and “traitors”.
“Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we’ll keep the red flag flying here,” read the tweet.
Mirwatch later tweeted: “This tweet is entirely inappropriate. I do not support it. I am strongly opposed to Labour splits, but the below is the incorrect response.
“A member of Young Labour National Committee proposed that we delete this tweet. As this is so contentious, members of exec are voting.”
The Press Association has contacted Young Labour for comment.